Claire Sexton ’22, a former NCATA All-American and one of the most decorated athletes in King Acrobatics & Tumbling history, was announced as the fifth head coach of the Tornado program in July 2024.
Sexton has quickly elevated the program in her first two seasons at the helm, guiding King to consecutive 4–5 overall records in 2025 and 2026, including a strong 4–3 mark in Conference Carolinas during the 2026 campaign. Under her leadership, multiple Tornado athletes have earned All-Conference honors, signaling the program’s continued rise and the competitive consistency she has established.
A standout performer during her collegiate career, Sexton competed for the Tornado from 2018–22 and earned NCATA All-America honors as a senior—becoming just the fourth athlete in program history to receive the national recognition. She was a two-time All-Conference Carolinas selection, highlighted by a First Team honor in 2022. That season, she helped King set a program-record compulsory pyramid score in an upset victory over No. 11 West Liberty. In total, Sexton contributed to seven program records, including four during the 2021 season.
Off the mat, Sexton excelled academically and in leadership roles. She was a member of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars Program and the Jack E. Snider Honors Program, and she served as President of the Tornado Leadership Academy from 2019 until her graduation in 2022. She also worked in King’s Student Life department, strengthening her commitment to student development and campus engagement.
Before returning to King as head coach, Sexton gained valuable coaching experience at Positively Gymnastics in Lebanon, Va., where she worked with upper-level athletes, and at Shooting Stars Gymnastics in Hickory, N.C., where she coached from 2018–21. Her technical background, leadership experience, and deep understanding of the sport positioned her as a natural fit to lead the Tornado program.
A native of Connelly Springs, N.C., Sexton earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from King University in 2022 and has held various roles in the accounting field alongside her coaching career.
Last updated: 5/12/26
